Detailed Study Notes on the Civil War

The discussion begins with the context of the Civil War, highlighting the significance of the secession of southern states after the election of Abraham Lincoln.
The birth of the Confederacy is noted, along with the desire of the South to maintain a peaceful separation while continuing slavery.

Lincoln viewed secession as a constitutional impossibility and was determined to reunite the Union.
He was reluctant to be the one to fire the first shot, leading to a strategic decision regarding Fort Sumter.

Fort Sumter, located in South Carolina, was a federal fort controlled by Union soldiers.
In April 1861, Union troops at Fort Sumter required resupply of food and munitions.
Lincoln decided to send ships to resupply the fort, which prompted Confederate President Jefferson Davis to choose between allowing the resupply or firing on it.
Davis decided to fire on the Union ship, resulting in the Union soldiers surrendering two days later.
This act provided Lincoln with justification to declare war on the Confederacy and save the Union.

It wasn't immediately clear that the Union would win the war, as both sides had distinct advantages and disadvantages.

The Union had a significant population advantage, with nearly five times as many people than the Confederacy.
- Northern states housed the largest cities and were more densely populated.
- A larger population provided an advantage in terms of manpower in military engagements.

The Union possessed the majority of the nation's economic resources, including:
- Banks
- Factories
- Railroads
This economic superiority meant the North could finance the war longer.
However, the South benefited economically from cotton production, which was crucial both domestically and internationally, creating a dependency that Confederate leaders hoped to exploit for foreign alliances.

Initially, the South had more talented military leaders (e.g., Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson) who achieved early victories.
Confederate generals could operate defensively, resulting in shorter supply lines and home-field advantages, contributing to their successes.
Lincoln faced challenges finding competent generals willing to act with the aggressiveness he desired.
Over time, Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as the Union general, who was committed to aggressive strategies against the South.

Both sides employed a strategy of total war, which involves leveraging all resources from economies and societies for victory.
Early misconceptions led some to believe the conflict would be short, highlighted by picnicking spectators at the first major battle.
As battles became increasingly bloody, it became apparent that a long protracted conflict was inevitable.

A significant aspect of total war was the introduction of military drafts on both sides.

States Rights Issues: The Confederacy's focus on states' rights conflicted with the central government's ability to compel men to fight, leading to draft evasion.
Inequities in Draft Laws: The draft favored wealthy plantation owners, allowing exemptions based on the number of enslaved people owned and permitting the hiring of substitutes.

The Union's draft was more effective due to centralized federal power but still faced resistance and resentment, especially among lower-income citizens.
Lincoln suspended habeas corpus to arrest approximately 15,000 draft dodgers, citing national security, further aggravating tensions.
The 1863 New York City draft riots erupted in part over racial tensions and economic grievances, resulting in violent clashes.

Leadership and Strategic Improvements
- After losses in initial battles (notably Bull Run), Lincoln began appointing better generals.
- Grant's success at Vicksburg (1863) was pivotal to controlling the Mississippi River and cutting the Confederacy in half.
Greater Resources of the North
- Grant's strategy of attrition targeted Confederate supplies, aimed at wearing down their capacity to fight.
- Southern morale deteriorated due to shortages, leading to bread riots and resentment against the Confederate government.
Destruction of Southern Infrastructure
- Sherman's March to the Sea exemplified a scorched-earth policy that led to significant destruction of resources essential for the Confederacy.
- The capture of Atlanta and subsequent campaigns devastated southern transport and supply lines.

The war concluded in 1865 after Grant's strategic maneuvers cut off Confederate escape routes.
General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, marking the end of the Civil War.